How did the idea for a new conference centre in Metz come about?
Michel Coqué - As soon as Pompidou Centrethe metropolis wanted a congress centre neighbour, along the lines of what has been done at Bilbao. As a result, the Robert Schuman Centre is strategically located, just opposite the museum, in the the new Amphitheatre business districtIt is linked by a tunnel to the railway station, arguably the most beautiful in France. All you have to do is step off the platform and you'll come straight to the Robert Schuman centre. The decision to locate the centre in the heart of the town was made by the delegates and organisers. The existing centre was six kilometres from the town. We realised that this was a major handicap. So from the outset, we chose to locate it in the heart of Metz, opposite the city's most emblematic building, the Centre Pompidou.
What are its other strengths?
Michel Coqué - The Robert Schuman Centre bears the signature of Jean-Michel Wilmotte's office which was inspired by the ochre colour of the Jaumont stone used to build the cathedral and the town's historic buildings. On the other hand, the city has made the bold choice of starting with a gauge of 1200 seats for the auditoriumThe average convention in France is attended by around 600 people. Jean-Michel Wilmotte has therefore designed a venue capable of accommodating 600, 800 or 1,200 people without giving the impression of being drowned out by an overly large space. It's all about subtlety. There are also two exhibition areas and, as in all the centres, several rooms for between 10 and 400 people. The architectural choice was to let the light almost everywhere, except of course in the amphitheatre.
Is the fact that it is managed by a major player such as GL Events another advantage?
Michel Coqué - In its specifications, the city was looking for an experienced operator, capable of pre-marketing the new centre and promoting it at major international events, as well as taking over existing conference capacity. However, GL Events was already the manager of the exhibition centre and convention centre. So the choice was a logical one. Today, we have three complementary sitesThe former, smaller convention centre, attached to the exhibition centre, was renamed in "convention centre.
Is the Robert Schuman conference centre already showing promise?
Michel Coqué - We have already 80 events planned over the coming year. What's particularly interesting is that we have 26 national conferencesThis is a good sign: the centre is responding to its market. This is a good sign, the centre is responding to its market. The Robert Schuman Centre's focus is primarily Franco-French. In a second phase we will look at the cross-border.
What factors will contribute to the success of this new centre?
Michel Coqué - If I go back to the theoretical model for convention centres, there are a few fundamentals that have to be met for them to work: the attractiveness of the city, its accessibility, the quality of its reception and accommodation facilities and, finally, the site itself and the efficiency of its manager. Accessibility is extremely easy, Metz being at the motorway crossroads North-South and East-West. The city also boasts several airports and three TGV stations nearby Metz, Nancy and Lorraine TGV. As far as accommodation is concerned, the hotel offer is in the process of being organised. A hotel has been built next to the centre and Metz also has a bold project, the Heller housea modern building designed by Philippe Starck topped by a building with traditional architecture. Things are gradually falling into place.
There remains perhaps one final challenge: to develop Metz's image as a destination...
Michel Coqué - Metz has become a very attractive cityAnd the city is showing it. In record time, the metropolis has succeeded in building an attraction agency by bringing together three institutions: the convention bureau, the joint economic agency of the city and Metz Métropole, and the tourist office. These three entities are now grouped under the Inspire Metz" label. This agency's mission is to promote the city mainly in the west and south of France. Our Belgian, Luxembourg and German neighbours are already aware of the city's rich cultural, historical and architectural heritage. Metz doesn't have an image problem, it has an image deficit. The city needs to succeed in making this richness known throughout France.
